Norann Oleson, Editorial Director of Food Gardening Network
Welcome to the sweet, juicy world of oranges!
Oranges are the perfect snack, the ideal juice, the heart of marvelous marmalade. There are hundreds of varieties of oranges to choose from, and so many different ways to use them—it’s a citrus paradise! And you can grow your own orange trees at home—in more zones than you would think!
First is the collection’s Introduction, where you’ll learn some of the basics about oranges and how to choose the variety that’s best for you to grow. You’ll also learn about the history behind the origin of this fabulous fruit.
Next, in the Feature Articles, you’ll get specifics about growing orange trees—from the different types of oranges to the best way to start growing them (seed? cutting? sapling?) to watering, fertilizing, and pruning your trees so they stay healthy and productive year after year.
There’s a lot to know about growing orange trees, so even if you’re a veteran orange grower, you might learn something new. We aim to gather everything there is to know about growing oranges into this single collection!
We have several fun Plant Profiles with the more popular varieties listed, including options for gardeners around the country and those who want to grow orange trees in containers.
There are hundreds of varieties of orange trees throughout the world, but not all of them are available in the United States. We’ve chosen these particular plant profiles to give you a representative sampling of some of the best orange trees in their particular categories. If you’d like us to include another orange tree cultivar that appeals to you, please let me know by commenting below.
After all, this is Food Gardening Network, and we want to include the knowledge of all our gardening readers in everything we do. Your input is just as important to us as anything we come up with on our own!
We do think you’ll love the orange Recipes we’ve compiled for enjoying the fruits of your labor. Each recipe is its own sweet treat.
Show off the sweetness of your own orange harvest with homemade marmalade—and orange scones to spread it on. We have other recipes that you can make for everyday meals, with tips for dressing them up for fancy dinners.
After that, you’ll be interested to learn how oranges can benefit your health in Nutrition Facts about Oranges. Oranges have great antioxidant properties, and they’re loaded with vitamin C!
Then there are the Home Remedies & Health Benefits of Oranges where you’ll learn how oranges are thought to help heart health, prevent cancer, and contribute to better digestive health. We’ll also talk about the potential hazards of some varieties of orange.
Because we want you to have everything there is to know about oranges at your fingertips, we’ve included a Resources section that’s complementary to this collection. Learn more about tools specific to growing oranges, and kitchen tools that will come in handy after you’ve harvested your oranges.
As always, we’ve included a brief Glossary in case you need a deeper explanation of any key terms. Be sure to let us know if there’s something else you need explained.
I’m off to make some fancy Candied Orange Peel right now, but I hope you’re ready to dive in and become a master orange grower!
